VOA慢速英语--Possible Boycotts Threaten 2019 Eurovision in Israel

 

Palestinian activist¹ groups are calling for a boycott² of the 2019 Eurovision song contest, set to be held in Israel.

In an open letter, the groups said they are seeking a boycott because of Israel’s continuing actions against Palestinians. The letter was signed by an organization representing Palestinian reporters and by several Palestinian cultural organizations.

Israeli singer Netta Barzilai won the hugely popular Eurovision contest last month in Lisbon, Portugal. The competition traditionally moves to the country of the winner from year to year.

The letter said the competition “must be boycotted³ to avoid complicity and business-as-usual” with the Israeli government. It added that a boycott is a way to pressure Israel to obey “international law and to respect the human rights of Palestinians.”

The letter also calls on the European Broadcasting Union, or EBU – which is in charge of Eurovision – not to support the contest in Israel. So far, however, the EBU has not shown any signs that it is considering a boycott of the event. The organization said it is accepting proposals from four Israeli cities – including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv – before deciding where to hold next year’s contest.

Boycott movements concerning next year’s Eurovision have also been launched in at least three countries, including Ireland, Iceland and Sweden.

If Jerusalem is chosen, it is likely to draw strong criticism. The city is not internationally recognized as Israel’s capital. Israel captured east Jerusalem in 1967 after the Six Day War against the armies of Egypt, Syria and Jordan.

Today, Israel considers all of Jerusalem its capital. The United States announced in December that it would soon recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Many political and religious leaders around the world condemned⁴ the decision.

The day after the 2018 Eurovision contest ended, the United States officially moved its embassy⁵ from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. So far, only two other countries -- Guatemala and Paraguay -- have followed the U.S. action and moved their embassies⁶ to Jerusalem.

There was continued fighting along the Gaza border as the Eurovision contest took place. More than 120 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since weekly protests began in the Gaza Strip in March. At least 60 people were killed two days after Israel celebrated⁷ its Eurovision win.

Activists⁸ had already targeted Netta Barzilai and her winning song “Toy” ahead of this year’s contest. They launched a campaign calling on voters to award her no points.

Israel has held other Eurovision contests in Jerusalem following previous victories - most recently in 1999. The events took place without incident.

But William Lee Adams, a London-based writer who is considered an expert on the Eurovision contest, said this time is different. He told the Associated Press he thinks there is greater concern about politics affecting the 2019 competition than ever before.

“Many Eurovision fans build their whole year around a trip to Eurovision, and just given the nature of what’s going on, their ideal has been tarnished⁹.”

Earlier this month, Argentina pulled out of a soccer match with Israel after the government moved the game from Haifa to Jerusalem. The Argentinian team canceled the much-awaited game just days before it was to be played. Israel said Argentina had canceled because its players received threats from “terrorists.”

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

complicity – n. the fact of being involved in doing something wrong

tarnished – adj. the state of having damaged or ruined the good quality of something (such as a person's reputation, image, etc.)

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

3 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

4 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

5 embassy   

n.大使馆，大使及其随员

参考例句：

• Large crowd demonstrated outside the British Embassy.很多群众在英国大使馆外面示威。
• He's a U.S. diplomat assigned to the embassy in London.他是美国驻伦敦大使馆的一名外交官。

6 embassies   

n.大使馆( embassy的名词复数 )；大使馆全体成员

参考例句：

• The representatives of other countries have their embassies there. 许多国家都在此设有大使馆。 来自英语晨读30分（高二）
• Demonstrators protested outside the country's embassies all over Europe. 该国驻欧洲各国的大使馆外都有群众进行示威抗议。 来自辞典例句

7 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

8 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 tarnished   

（通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏

参考例句：

• The mirrors had tarnished with age. 这些镜子因年深日久而照影不清楚。
• His bad behaviour has tarnished the good name of the school. 他行为不轨，败坏了学校的声誉。